re: Do you know your neighbors?

I only know the people next to me, on both sides. I've been in their houses, and they've been in mine.

One has a 30 something year old couple with three little boys living in it. Two of the kids aren't old enough to be in school, and their mom is home with them every day. They've only been in it for a couple of years, but we love having them there. After school all three of the boys are out playing ball, pushing each other in a swing from a big oak, or jumping on the trampoline, in the back yard. There's a wood fence around all of their backyard except for the side ajoining us, where there's a chain link fence.

Another couple with three older boys (two Jr. high and one high school) lived there before them. The couple, and those boys, were worthless. The only time we ever saw them was holidays, when we would have gifts, or candy for them. Their house was in terrible condition. They never mowed, or raked their yard. Once a year, for the last two years they were there, volunteers from some organization cleaned their yard. Their mom stayed home, and home schooled them. They moved to Shreveport, but their mom is from Ruston, so she will call, and they will come by around their birthdays. They came by on Halloween this year too. None of the kids were dressed, but they were trick or treating.

A lady who owns nail salons lives on the other side with her brother, who is disabled. They know they can call, or come over if they need anything. We're forever getting each other's mail, so we see each other to exchange that.

Nothing but woods across the street, and the houses are a good distance from the road. I know a lot of other people's vehicles, and wave, but we never have neighborhood gatherings.